Controversial charity wins skirmish with town over collection boxes

Hours after Planet Aid sued Ashland over a town order to remove its ubiquitous yellow boxes, the town agreed to let the boxes stay.

The charity sued Ashland in US District Court on Friday - and asked for a temporary restraining order - charging a June 1 order from the town building inspector that it remove its ten collection boxes within ten days violated its First Amendment rights. At issue was a proposed town bylaw to regulate donation boxes and charge fees for them.

In its complaint, Planet Aid argued:

The solicitation of donations such as clothing, shoes and other textiles via collection bins is a form of speech fully protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

But not long after filing the suit and request for a temporary restraining order, the charity filed a motion to withdraw its request, at least for the restraining order.

In their request to withdraw the restraining-order request, Planet Aid's attorneys wrote the town would notify all property owners - which include Ashland public schools - that the boxes could stay.

Planet Aid sells the clothes and shoes it collects to fund charity efforts in the Third World. It is not without its critics. The boxes have proven controversial in Worcester.